I am on the hunt for a new setup. I have a few tenkara rods and they are fun for small water. I try to camp at lakes and I’ve found myself missing the ability to cast a line farther out whenever I have only brought a tenkara setup. My current fly fishing setup for just the empty reel and rod is pushing 9oz. Of course I didn’t consider weight when buying it because backpacking wasn’t the intended use. I have brought it a few times anyway and aside from the spreadsheet weight, I had a lot more fun at the lake casting a full setup.
Now I want a dedicated setup just for the pack and I have come across a few lighter and smaller rods. Top of the list for lightweight and price(as in expensive) is the Douglas Upstream 3806. At 8′ long, 3 weight and 6 pieces the weight is only 1.75oz.
https://douglasoutdoors.com/fly-rods/upstream-series/
For the reel I have found an alternative that weighs in at a scant 1.4oz
https://www.mavrkusa.com/collections/reels/products/stinger-micro-reel?variant=44225460600982
Anyone ever try out the Mavrk Stinger micro reel? It’s more of a line holder than a reel but for small alpine fish, sstripping line to land a fish is no issue. I am debating on the slightly heavier (1.7oz) billet aluminum version just for the piece of mind vs composite. It also might help a little more with balancing the rod in hand?
Anyone else go down this road and have some models I should be looking at?
